Quezon City, Philippines – With the theme “Engaging Development Partners towards Sustainable Development of Smallholder/Family Farmers”, 350 representatives from CSOs, Farmers’ and Peoples’ Organizations, Government representatives, and International development partners gathered together to celebrate the 2016 International Year of Family Farming Knowledge and Learning Market – Policy Engagement (IYFF KLM-PE) at the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM), Visayas Avenue, Quezon City last 17 to 18 of November 2016.
The celebration was spearheaded by the IYFF Technical Working Group members Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), International Fund for Agriculture and Organization (IFAD), AsiaDHRRA, PhilDHRRA, AFA, PAKISAMA, AFOSP-MTCP2, We Effect, and TRIAS – South East Asia. AsiaDHRRA invited 14 FO leaders from the Region 8 Alliance (R8 Alliance) that were partners under the Post-Yolanda Fund Local Initiatives.
This year’s two-day celebration stems from the achievements of previous IYFF KLM-PE celebrations in the Philippines which underscore the many solutions on food security and nutrition, balanced ecology, and climate resiliency done by family farmers. Specifically, during the plenary sessions updates on the 16 Policy Proposals that resulted from the previous IYFF KLM-PE celebration were presented.

Representatives from IFAD, IFAD-SEARCA, FAO Philippines, DAR, IFAD-Independent Office of Evaluation, FAO, Office of the Cabinet Secretary (Office of the President), and AsiaDHRRA led the opening of the interactive exhibit of the KLM-PE IYFF+2 on the 1^st day. The interactive exhibit showcases the programs and projects of participating organizations based on the three main themes of this year’s celebrations.
Ms. Marlene Ramirez, AsiaDHRRA’s Secretary General, gave an overview of the Plenary Session: Introduction of Good Practices and Innovations in Smallholder/Family farming practices/innovations. She recalled a conversation with a farmer during a field visit, and that the farmer emphasized learning and sharing of knowledge as one the reasons for their success.
This year’s celebration of the IYFF KLM-PE was able to generate progress updates, review current challenges and opportunities on 2015 IYFF +1 Action Agenda; explore possible opportunities for programs and policies focusing on smallholder/family farmers under the new administration; agree on action points for 2017 that would advance the institutionalization of smallholder/family farming platform Technical Working Group; draft and adopt a strategic thrusts for Smallholder/Family Farming platform.
At the global level, the IYFF +2 is an answer to the Brasilia Manifesto’s call for a decade long celebration and campaign for family farmers.